Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Liverpool fans were subjected to one of the most bamboozling rollercoaster rides in their club's history lost season. At its nadir, the Gillett and Hicks regime seemed to be dragging the Reds toward administration, while on the pitch Roy Hodgson was unable to reverse the gloom and the side dipped into the relegation zone. But October brought fresh ownership ond January the return of Kop deity Kenny Dalglish, while the arrivals of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez compensated for Fernando Torres' moody exit. Summer recruits Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam will only add to this optimism, but Amid such a maelstroem, it's hard to gauge exactly where Liverpool are football-wise. One thing's for certain, though: the horrors of 2010 are a distant memory. Fans and owners expecting a title tilt despite finishing sixth last season. Much is being made of the fact that since Dalglish's re-appointment, only Manchester United clocked up more league points. And while Liverpool were once heavily reliant on Steven Gerrard and Torres to win, they now have a wedith of offensive options as a team capable of a top-four finish.

While massively improved, Liverpool are an outfit in transition. They may have hit fine form this spring, but then so did Everton: it remains a season-long challenge and reverse their dubious away form. This summer's signings still need to fit into DaIglish's jigsaw, but without European distraction, the Reds deserve to be considered dark horses. There's no secret to how Dalglish will want his side to operate: he played for 13 seasons within a Liverpool machine for which pass-and-move was the only mantra. The fans demand it - and Steve Clarke can coach it too. Formation-wise, Dalglish has proven surprisingly flexible, toying with three at the back as well as a back four. However they set up, expect a fast, ball-moving gameplan, with Adam set to play a key role alongside Gerrard. iverpool may strive to stroke it around like Barc.a, but they'd be doft to purchase a £35m aerial battering ram of Carroll's calibre and not play to his strengths. Punts to the Geordie will become a viable option on the break, with both Gerrard ond Henderson surging forword to feed off Carroll's charitable forehead.

Pepe Reina is arguably the best goalkeeper in the league, and the Anfield side now has more match-winners than ever. With other midfielders flourishing - not to mention the arrival of Henderson and Adam - the burden of carrying the side has been lifted from Gerrard. which should give the captain freedom. Suarez has proved a smash ond could form a terrifying pairing with Carroll. The Reds will have to develop a winning mentality to become a serious force. They lost 14 games last season - only one fewer than relegated Birmingham - and need to bag more late wins and defend leads better. Despite the battling qualities of Jamie Corragher and Daniel Agger, their defence is less experienced and versatile than the club's attacking set-up. Liverpool need to avoid the kind of slow start that crippled them under Hodgson, and must address a fatal inability to crush smaller teams on the road. Despite winning away at Chelsea, the Reds struggled away to bottom-half sides, securing only eight points out of a possible 30. Liverpool have o botch of promising kids. Jonjo Shelvey, Jack Robinson, Jay Spearing, Danny Wilson and Martin Kelly all featured last term, ond speedy winger David Amoo, 16-year-old Roheem Stirling, England U17 captain Conor Coady, full-back John Flanagan and midfielder Tom Ince are all waiting on the sidelines. Dalglish spent guickly and decisively, the fans are back onside ond there's no Europe League to sidetrack them from their goal of...